Sandy Wilson

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Sandy Wilson, 74, of Estes Park, died Monday May 11, 2010 at the Estes Park Medical Center. Sandra Lee Joseph was born May 6, 1936 in Oakland, Calif. Her parents were Stanley and Ruth (Dudgeon) Joseph.

She married Harlalee Wilson on Dec. 27, 1960 in Habaro, Calif. The couple lived in various place before retiring to Estes Park in 1993 where Sandy remained active at St. Bartholomew`s Episcopal Church and local arts and music. She was also active in PEO Chapter IU and the Plein Air Artists.

Music and art have been twin passions all of her life. She studied piano with teachers in Omaha, Neb., in Denver, and at the University of Alaska in Juneau, Alaska, and the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. Her B.A. is in elementary education and she has taught in high schools and elementary schools in Spokane, Wash., Portland, Ore., and Redwood City, Calif. Meanwhile her art study included drawing and painting at Stanford University and in private studios in Palo Alto and Saratoga, Calif. In N.Y.C. she designed, made and sold pillows for Bloomindales and local shops.

In Littleton, Colo. she added piano pedagogy to her studies and began building a private piano studio, along with learning pottery. Some of her work was shown in the Gilpin County show. Her piano studios continued in Juneau, Iowa City and Estes Park.

She has belonged to the Music Teacher`s National Association for 38 years and was certified in that organization in both Iowa and Colorado. She has also belonged to the National Guild of Musicians and the American Federation of Musicians. In these groups she has organized many festivals, auditions, and has been president of several local piano teachers` organizations. She has played, along with others, in some of the Fireside Concerts, and has also continued to study and to show her watercolors.

Most recently her watercolor studies have been with Jan Hart, now from Costa Rica.

Sandy was preceded in death by her husband, Hal, on Nov. 15, 2009. She was also preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her son Lawrence and his wife Tanna of Joelton,Tenn. and a daughter Catherine Peterson and her husband Dale of Westminster, Colo.; seven grandchildren, one great grandchild and a sister Catherine Mize of Mountain View, Calif.

A Memorial mass will be celebrated at St. Bartholomew`s Episcopal Church on Saturday, June 26, at 11 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Oratorio Society of Estes Park, The Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park or to YMCA of the Rockies for day camp scholarships, all in care of Allnutt Funeral Service 1302 Graves Avenue Estes Park, CO 80517. Go to allnutt.com to send a message to Sandy`s family.